Abstract

Background

There is little information in the literature on methods of food composition database
development to calculate nutrient intake from food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data.
The aim of this study is to describe the development of an FFQ and a food composition
table to calculate nutrient intake in a Black Zimbabwean population.

Methods

Trained interviewers collected 24-hour dietary recalls (24 hr DR) from high and low
income families in urban and rural Zimbabwe. Based on these data and input from local
experts we developed an FFQ, containing a list of frequently consumed foods, standard
portion sizes, and categories of consumption frequency. We created a food composition
table of the foods found in the FFQ so that we could compute nutrient intake. We used
the USDA nutrient database as the main resource because it is relatively complete,
updated, and easily accessible. To choose the food item in the USDA nutrient database
that most closely matched the nutrient content of the local food we referred to a
local food composition table.

Results

Almost all the participants ate sadza (maize porridge) at least 5 times a week, and
about half had matemba (fish) and caterpillar more than once a month. Nutrient estimates
obtained from the FFQ data by using the USDA and Zimbabwean food composition tables
were similar for total energy intake intra class correlation (ICC) = 0.99, and carbohydrate
(ICC = 0.99), but different for vitamin A (ICC = 0.53), and total folate (ICC = 0.68).

Conclusion

We have described a standardized process of FFQ and food composition database development
for a Black Zimbabwean population.